Hey Somerville bikers and committee, Great news... As I have mentioned at our meetings there is a large Mystic River Coalition from several groups and cities

Message 1 of 10
, Jan 31, 2004

0 Attachment

Hey Somerville bikers and committee,

Great news...

As I have mentioned at our meetings there is a large Mystic River Coalition from several groups and cities and we have been pushing for what I call the "three sister bridges" to be a connected for pedestrians and bicyclists across the Mystic River.

The "three sisters" are-

Route 28

Amelia Earhart Dam

Route 99

Well check out this fact sheet attached.

By the way they are also marked on our own "masterplan" for bike routes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice have settled a case with the Mystic Station power plant in Everett stemming from air quality violations over a five-year period.Plant owner Exelon Mystic, LLC has agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty and fund more than $5 million of environmental projects in the Boston area.In one of these projects, Exelon will spend $250,000 to build a commuter bike path link over the Amelia Earhart Dam on the Mystic River.The project will connect Everett and Somerville and link several existing and planned bike paths in the greater Boston area.

Project Details

·Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation owns and operates the Amelia Earhart Dam, and will help implement the project (contact Dan Driscoll, 617-727-9693, x5268)

·New path will provide critical bike and foot traffic link across the Mystic River; will make Sullivan Square and Wellington T stations more accessible for bike commuters; will connect Everett’s Gateway Plaza developments with Somerville’s Assembly Square and Draw Seven Park; and will connect current bike paths in Somerville with proposed Bike-to-the-Sea path in Everett

·Earhart Dam bike path has been advocated by many local interest groups such as MassBike, contact Bryce Nesbitt at 617-542-BIKE; Mystic Crossing, contact Patrick Johnston at 617-905-3747; and the Mystic River Watershed Association, contact Janet Kovner at 781-316-3438

Schedule

·Design work will begin by June 1, 2004, and will be completed within one year

At the route 99 and route 28 bridges the big problem is not crossing
the river, but staying on the same side of the river.

Medford residents can be especially helpful by monitoring the progress
of the new Department of Conservation & Recreation master plan for the
Mystic River, which is underway. The project boundaries are from the
Route 99 bridge to the confluence of Alewife Brook.

-Bryce

--- In MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Mela" <r.mela@c...> wrote:
> Where is information on the coalition and the master plan available?
> Do you have/need Medford residents involved?
>
> --- In MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com, "Bhupesh Patel" <bhupes@m...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hey Somerville bikers and committee,
> > Great news...
> > As I have mentioned at our meetings there is a large Mystic River
> Coalition from several groups and cities and we have been pushing for
> what I call the "three sister bridges" to be a connected for
> pedestrians and bicyclists across the Mystic River.
> > The "three sisters" are-
> > Route 28
> > Amelia Earhart Dam
> > Route 99
> > Well check out this fact sheet attached.
> > By the way they are also marked on our own "masterplan" for bike
routes.
> >
> > Bhupesh

Lisa Brukilacchio

Bryce- thanks for pointing out that it is the underpassages that are needed for safe pedestrian and bike access at both 28 and 99--and the importance of

Message 4 of 10
, Feb 1, 2004

0 Attachment

Bryce- thanks for pointing out that it is the underpassages that are needed
for safe pedestrian and bike access at both 28 and 99--and the importance of
continuing to work closely with the municipalities to address these two
sisters.

Re the DCR Mystic Master Plan, at the Mystic Basin Team meeting on Thursday,
it sounded as if the plan hit a snag and is NOT in progress. Seems that Dan
Driscoll is working hard to revive it, so it was suggested that supporting
this planning process itself should be a major emphasis of communication
with the state at this time, in order to leverage the maximum benefits and
to support our long term vision of improved public access.

At the route 99 and route 28 bridges the big problem is not crossing
the river, but staying on the same side of the river.

Medford residents can be especially helpful by monitoring the progress
of the new Department of Conservation & Recreation master plan for the
Mystic River, which is underway. The project boundaries are from the
Route 99 bridge to the confluence of Alewife Brook.

-Bryce

--- In MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Mela" <r.mela@c...> wrote:
> Where is information on the coalition and the master plan available?
> Do you have/need Medford residents involved?
>
> --- In MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com, "Bhupesh Patel" <bhupes@m...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hey Somerville bikers and committee,
> > Great news...
> > As I have mentioned at our meetings there is a large Mystic River
> Coalition from several groups and cities and we have been pushing for
> what I call the "three sister bridges" to be a connected for
> pedestrians and bicyclists across the Mystic River.
> > The "three sisters" are-
> > Route 28
> > Amelia Earhart Dam
> > Route 99
> > Well check out this fact sheet attached.
> > By the way they are also marked on our own "masterplan" for bike
routes.
> >
> > Bhupesh

Where is the DCR Mystic Master Plan? Is it available to the public? I ve really, really wanted a bi-ped underpass for Rt 28. I had no idea that someone was

Message 6 of 10
, Feb 1, 2004

0 Attachment

Where is the DCR Mystic Master Plan? Is it available to the public?

I've really, really wanted a bi-ped underpass for Rt 28. I had no
idea that someone was actually working on it. I'm also very
interested in the connector between Mystic Riverbend Park and downtown
Medford ( and beyond -- how the path will cross Main St. in Medford )

BTW, some folks in the Medford Bike and Pedestrian Action Committee (
now morphing into the Medford Bipeds) are very intersted in taking
part in such a project.

What is the Mystic Basin Team? When is the next meeting? What are
the hurdles?

> Bryce- thanks for pointing out that it is the underpassages that are

needed

> for safe pedestrian and bike access at both 28 and 99--and the

importance of

> continuing to work closely with the municipalities to address these two
> sisters.
>
> Re the DCR Mystic Master Plan, at the Mystic Basin Team meeting on

Thursday,

> it sounded as if the plan hit a snag and is NOT in progress. Seems

that Dan

> Driscoll is working hard to revive it, so it was suggested that

supporting

> this planning process itself should be a major emphasis of communication
> with the state at this time, in order to leverage the maximum

benefits and

> to support our long term vision of improved public access.
>
> Lisa Brukilacchio
>

Bryce W Nesbitt

... FYI: Ikea included the undercrossing in their mitigation package. Unfortunately, they included design costs only. The undercrossing is simple enough that

Message 7 of 10
, Feb 1, 2004

0 Attachment

Lisa Brukilacchio wrote:

>The underpass for Rt 28 has been on the discussion table for years as well.
>I know that Julia O'Brian herself has schleped down there to investigate.
>The city of Somerville has been working on that end and would love to see it
>finally happen as well.
>
>

FYI: Ikea included the undercrossing in their mitigation package.
Unfortunately, they included design
costs only.

The undercrossing is simple enough that it could be done as a volunteer
construction project, but
the complexity of permit requirements probably preclude that option.

Lisa Brukilacchio

Robert- the DCR Mystic Master Plan does not exist yet? It is supposed to be happening as we speak, but has been delayed once again. There was a sort of preview

Message 8 of 10
, Feb 1, 2004

0 Attachment

Robert- the DCR Mystic Master Plan does not exist yet? It is supposed to be
happening as we speak, but has been delayed once again. There was a sort of
preview done by MDC back in the mid-late 90s that never progressed beyond
draft form. It might be a good idea to see if we could get our hands on a
few of those- as at least a resource and good maps.

The underpass for Rt 28 has been on the discussion table for years as well.
I know that Julia O'Brian herself has schleped down there to investigate.
The city of Somerville has been working on that end and would love to see it
finally happen as well.

Re the Mystic Basin Team? It is a remnant of the former Executive Office of
Env Affairs Watershed Initiative that supported multi-stakeholder groups in
each watershed. (Ask sometime about the fight to get Mystic deemed worthy of
a team of its own!) The team met at least quarterly and was a forum for
discussion and presentations by different agencies and organizations about
key work in the Mystic. It also helped to determine the allocation of state
funds to watersheds and was an important source of funding for critical work
during the lifetime of the WI. It ended last January with one stroke of
Romney's pen. There was a movement to revive the meetings by MyRWA and some
other members, so volunteers are coordinating it. I think the next tenative
date is early March as one of the state agencies was looking for input.. We
can make sure to post the meetings on the listserve next round! They are
open to all.

I've really, really wanted a bi-ped underpass for Rt 28. I had no
idea that someone was actually working on it. I'm also very
interested in the connector between Mystic Riverbend Park and downtown
Medford ( and beyond -- how the path will cross Main St. in Medford )

BTW, some folks in the Medford Bike and Pedestrian Action Committee (
now morphing into the Medford Bipeds) are very intersted in taking
part in such a project.

What is the Mystic Basin Team? When is the next meeting? What are
the hurdles?

State Representative Chiampa had a line item in the State budget for $600,000 for an undercarriage that did not pass. --Jane Sauer

Message 9 of 10
, Feb 2, 2004

0 Attachment

State Representative Chiampa had a line item in the State budget for
$600,000 for an undercarriage that did not pass.

--Jane Sauer

Bryce W Nesbitt wrote:

>Lisa Brukilacchio wrote:
>
>
>
>>The underpass for Rt 28 has been on the discussion table for years as well.
>>I know that Julia O'Brian herself has schleped down there to investigate.
>>The city of Somerville has been working on that end and would love to see it
>>finally happen as well.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>FYI: Ikea included the undercrossing in their mitigation package.
>Unfortunately, they included design
>costs only.
>
>The undercrossing is simple enough that it could be done as a volunteer
>construction project, but
>the complexity of permit requirements probably preclude that option.
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MysticCrossing/
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> MysticCrossing-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>

DavidD/JaneS

Greetings-- It is very disturbing to hear that the DCR Mystic Master Plan is not in process. This Master Plan process started just about four years ago when

Message 10 of 10
, Feb 3, 2004

0 Attachment

Greetings--

It is very disturbing to hear that the DCR Mystic Master Plan is not in
process. This Master Plan process started just about four years ago when
the Mystic View Task Force (MVTF) invited someone from the MDC to speak
at our monthly meeting, March 2000. The person who spoke was Dan
Driscoll. He so inspired us that even though the time was very short,
MVTF contacted the representative for Assembly Square, Timothy Toomey,
to put in a line item for a master plan for the lower Mystic. Dan
Driscoll worked with MVTF to obtain a dollar amount. Rep. Toomey and his
staff worked hard on gaining passage. He had the support of the
Somerville delegation. Charles Shannon worked for passage on the Senate
side. Gov. Celluci vetoed the line item, but the veto was overridden.

For some reason the MDC did not act right away, and the $250,000 was
lost. It then had to be retrieved. MVTF learned the lesson that nothing
should taken for granted. MVTF arranged a meeting with Julia O'Brien,
MDC Director of Planning, to make sure that everything was back on
track. A staff person from Rep. Toomey's office attended. Also, Rep.
Jehlen was there. Below is a letter to editor of The Boston Globe that
I wrote back in June 2000 that pertains this subject.

Is there some kind of politics involved at the state level now?

--Jane Sauer

6/24/00
The Boston Globe
Letter to the Editor
"Somerville parkland"
by Jane Sauer

I read with interest the June 16 editorial, "Greening the Neponset,"
about the Pope John Paul II Park under MDC jurisdiction, completed with
$8 million in state operating funds.

There is poorly maintained MDC parkland on the Mystic River in the
Assembly Square area of Somerville, New England's most densely populated
city. With over 18,000 people per square mile, we are 50% more densely
populated than Boston. A recent survey of the western portion of this
MDC parkland found that four sections of the river overlook railings
were missing, a once decrepit picnic table had vanished, none of the
eight benches were usable, four had only the damaged concrete supports
remaining, and there were no trash receptacles. Wouldn't it be fair if
Somerville's 75,000 residents had a few functioning benches to sit on so
we could enjoy this small stretch of riverfront?

The problem is that the MDC now has to operate largely through line
items in the state budget, and not according to the overall maintenance
and capital improvement needs of the parklands it oversees. It is time
to change the system.

Note. As often happens this letter was cut by The Boston Globe.
Unfortunately the last paragraph was also deleted, leaving out an
important point.

Lisa Brukilacchio wrote:

>Bryce- thanks for pointing out that it is the underpassages that are needed
>for safe pedestrian and bike access at both 28 and 99--and the importance of
>continuing to work closely with the municipalities to address these two
>sisters.
>
>Re the DCR Mystic Master Plan, at the Mystic Basin Team meeting on Thursday,
>it sounded as if the plan hit a snag and is NOT in progress. Seems that Dan
>Driscoll is working hard to revive it, so it was suggested that supporting
>this planning process itself should be a major emphasis of communication
>with the state at this time, in order to leverage the maximum benefits and
>to support our long term vision of improved public access.
>
>Lisa Brukilacchio
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bryce Nesbitt [mailto:bryce1@...]
>Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 1:39 AM
>To: MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [MysticCrossing] Re: Sister Bridges (was Fact Sheet on Mystic
>Station Settlement - Earhart Dam B
>
>
>View the "Connections.gif" graphic in the files section at
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MysticCrossing/
>
>At the route 99 and route 28 bridges the big problem is not crossing
>the river, but staying on the same side of the river.
>
>Medford residents can be especially helpful by monitoring the progress
>of the new Department of Conservation & Recreation master plan for the
>Mystic River, which is underway. The project boundaries are from the
>Route 99 bridge to the confluence of Alewife Brook.
>
> -Bryce
>
>
>--- In MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Mela" <r.mela@c...> wrote:
>
>
>>Where is information on the coalition and the master plan available?
>>Do you have/need Medford residents involved?
>>
>>--- In MysticCrossing@yahoogroups.com, "Bhupesh Patel" <bhupes@m...>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hey Somerville bikers and committee,
>>>Great news...
>>>As I have mentioned at our meetings there is a large Mystic River
>>>
>>>
>>Coalition from several groups and cities and we have been pushing for
>>what I call the "three sister bridges" to be a connected for
>>pedestrians and bicyclists across the Mystic River.
>>
>>
>>>The "three sisters" are-
>>> Route 28
>>> Amelia Earhart Dam
>>> Route 99
>>>Well check out this fact sheet attached.
>>>By the way they are also marked on our own "masterplan" for bike
>>>
>>>
>routes.
>
>
>>>Bhupesh
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MysticCrossing/
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> MysticCrossing-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MysticCrossing/
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> MysticCrossing-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>

Your message has been successfully submitted and would be delivered to recipients shortly.